From Conflict to Connection: Approaching and Bridging Difficult Conversations

Description:

In this engaging panel discussion, panelists will explore how to transform challenging conversations into opportunities for connection and growth. Learn strategies to identify underlying tensions, interrupt unproductive dialogue, and build bridges across differences. Whether you’re navigating conflict in the workplace or in your community, this session will provide practical tools for fostering more meaningful and productive conversations.

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Learn about our speakers!

 

Moderator: Guillermo Lopez

Executive Director, The Guillermo Lopez DEI Institute

Guillermo Lopez, Jr. is a first-generation Puerto Rican born and raised in Bethlehem, Pa. He is married to Isabel Lopez for over 50 years. They have two children, Amy Marie 49, Daniel 41, and 2 grandchildren, Audrey Joyce Perando 10, and Elliott Ray Perando 6. Guillermo has been honing his skills as a leader and facilitator in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging spaces for over 30 years. He studied and trained for 5 years at the National Coalition Building Institute and when he retired from his 27 years as a Millwright at Bethlehem Steel Company, he became a full-time senior trainer for NCBI. His workplace experience is the basis for the training he leads. He has extensive experience working within communities and organizations to build trust, create opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen relationships across differences.

Guillermo has trained and consulted with over 20 universities and 31 communities in 14 different states and 2 different continents. 12 different police departments, over 1400 police officers, and 8 school districts. He was one of seven selected from over 10,000 consultants as a Delegate to the 2001 United Nations World Conference on Ending Racism, Xenophobia and other Intolerances in Durban, South Africa. He is the director of a National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) LatinX Affinity Group and the Co-Director of the NCBI Law Enforcement and Community Trust Building Program. He is a founding member of The Latino Leadership Alliance of the Lehigh Valley and serves as co-chair of the Leadership Committee. He is one of the designers of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation CORE Fellowship Program. A two-year capacity-building process designed to bring Lehigh Valley nonprofit leaders together to center equity in themselves, their relationships, their organizations, and the sectors they serve.

He is a Senior Partner and co-founder at Intersekt Alliance, is a consultant for US2 Consulting, Faces International, and Good People Solutions, and also has his own Consulting firm “G-Pez Consulting” He is the 2021 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golden Latin Awards of the Lehigh Valley. He was honored by the National Puerto Rican Agenda-Pa with the 2023 “Boriquén Award” recognition for his demonstrated services and actions that are beyond the call of duty and have made a lasting and meaningful contribution or impact on the Puerto Rican and Latino community. He was honored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Star of Bethlehem Award in 2023. In 2024, he was awarded the History Maker Award from Lehigh Univeristy’s Office of Cultural Affairs. He is a Senior Partner and co-founder at Intersekt Alliance and has his own Consulting firm “G-Pez Consulting.” Guillermo has been a member of Life Church (COTM) since 1995.

Kristin Leayman

Senior HR Partner, Air Products

Kristin Leayman (she/her) is a Senior HR Partner, North America at Air Products providing direct strategic HR support to multiple groups and leads a team of 4 that support Air Products North America Industrial Gas core business.  Prior to her current role, she was the Director, HR at Olympus Corporation of the Americas.  In this role, she led companywide efforts to advance a more inclusive and diverse workplace, held the role of EEO Administrator, and led a team of 6 that was responsible for People Analytics, HR Compliance, and HRBP’s for the Corporate Functions.

Leayman has 13 years of diverse HR experience in various industries including roles in: HR Business Partner, Org Development, Talent Management, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), People Analytics, HR Compliance, EEO Administrator (AAP), and Employee Experience (Wellness, Recognition, Engagement, Culture).

Leayman holds a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing from Penn State University, a master’s in business administration from DeSales University, and a PHR certification.

Leayman is an adjunct professor at Muhlenberg College teaching Diversity & the Organization course as part of the new DEIB certification program.

Tyrone Russell

CEO & Principal Consultant, Faces International|

Native of Southeast San Diego, Tyrone Russell is an entrepreneur, community advocate, brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, and an award-winning higher education professional. Formerly serving as the Coordinator of Racial and Ethnic Justice with the Community Action Agency of the Lehigh Valley, and as the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Lehigh University, Tyrone executes cultural realization sessions and diversity trainings throughout the region for corporations, non-profits, municipalities, and school districts.

Tyrone is the Chief Executive Officer of Faces International Marketing and Development, LLC, and serves on various boards including the Allentown Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley, Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown, United Way Lehigh Valley, and serves as President of the Cleveland School of Cannabis- The first ever accredited institution to offer education for alternative medicines.

Robyn Weaver

Program Officer, Capacity Building, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation|

Robyn Weaver currently serves as Program Officer, Capacity Building at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. Robyn’s primary responsibility within this role includes implementation and co-facilitation of the CORE Fellowship, a two-year capacity-building process designed to bring diverse Lehigh Valley nonprofit leaders together to center equity in themselves, their relationships, their organizations, and the Lehigh Valley non-profit sector.

Prior to joining the foundation, Robyn has held various roles in racial equity and social justice-centered capacity building and nonprofit programming including serving as Equity Officer for Pocono Mountains United Way and as Program Manager for Racial and Ethnic Justice at Community Action Lehigh Valley. She has also engaged with local and regional nonprofits providing contracted services including facilitation of We Interrupted, a white-affinity group with Promise Neighborhoods Lehigh Valley, and developing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion learning modules for Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. Robyn currently serves as Board Chair for the YWCA of Bethlehem.

While Robyn was born in the Lehigh Valley, she spent years traveling from Philadelphia to Alexandria, VA to Corvallis, OR, seeking her purpose and taking part-time college courses along the way. Ultimately, she returned home to Allentown where she settled in to complete both her Bachelor and Master of Social Work from Kutztown University. She currently holds graduate certificates in Leadership and Management and Community Development from Kutztown University as well as a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University. Robyn is a plant mom, travel bug, and craft nerd. In her free time, you can find her on top of a mountain, tending her garden, tangled within a pile of yarn, or with her nose buried in a good book.